Mandatory card payment machines could be on their way for Oxford taxi and private hire drivers

Oxford City Council is consulting with the travelling public and the licensed trade to see if it should be mandatory for all Oxford City Council-licensed hackney carriages and private hire vehicles to offer a card payment option using a card reader machine.

The council say they have received queries from members of the public about the possibility of card payments for taxis.

This method of paying is standard in some parts of the country, such as London, and many people now tend to carry less cash and expect to pay for many items and services by card, the council believes.

A positive response to the consultation may result in changes to the council's policy and the inclusion of a mandatory condition on licences which means all licensed vehicles must have a card payment option.

Cllr Tom Hayes, Cabinet Member for Zero Carbon Oxford, said: "With the cashless society becoming more and more a factor of everyday life, whether it’s paying in restaurants, shops, or even on buses, we realise that there is a growing demand to extend this form of payment to taxis and private hire vehicles.
"This consultation aims to inform us about how great that demand is and I call on users and taxi service providers to get involved in the consultation so we can arrive at a positive way forward for this initiative."